The Hindu : Girl succumbs to burns, teacher suspended

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 06, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Girl succumbs to burns, teacher suspended

By K. V. Prasad

COIMBATORE Nov. 5. Krithika (9), a class IV student of a Corporation school here, died early today of burns she suffered in a self-immolation bid yesterday. It is alleged that the girl set herself ablaze after she was rebuked and beaten up by a teacher in the Koilmedu Middle School.

Pending a detailed enquiry, the Corporation Commissioner, D. Karthikeyan, placed the teacher under suspension and initiated disciplinary action against the headmistress.

Krithika's parents say the teacher rebuked and beat up the girl when she complained of a scuffle among students.

The report of a preliminary enquiry ordered by Mr. Karthikeyan yesterday was submitted to the Commissioner this afternoon by the Corporation Education Officer, W. Robert Karunakaran, who assisted the Deputy Commissioner, M. Karunakaran, in the probe.

The officials had held enquiries with the parents and relatives of the girl and also at the school. The Commissioner said that while there was prima facie evidence of scolding, the parents' charge that Krithika had been beaten up was not substantiated with any proof. The enquiry so far had not revealed any corporal punishment.

However, a detailed probe was on to obtain more details of the incident, which led to the self-immolation.

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